Latest Update
July 23, 2018
Thank you once again for your support of Team Young Medalists! If you haven't been following along on Facebook, here's a quick recap of the past week.
Saturday - bright and early, 6 riders and their parents packed up the SUV and rental car with luggage, bikes, gear and food for the 10 hour trip to Val D'Or. They stopped overnight in Ottawa for an easy ride to stretch their legs.
Sunday - arrival in Val d'Or and unloading and setting up their room.
Monday - recon ride around Val d'Or where most of the stages finish, several with circuits within the town limits. The team presentation (we are last, thanks to our name!) occurs during a deluge, and the team sprint competition is cancelled. Thankfully, it's the only rainy day. 25 teams with 144 riders from 8 countries, with 6 national teams (USA, Canda, Mexico, France, New Zealand and Thailand) will compete. Each team has a minimum of 4 riders and a maximum of 6.
Tuesday - nerves are high for the first stage, but our boys avoid the crashes, and our top riders are awarded same time as the winner. Team YM is tied for 1st in the Team GC and placed 10th, based on the riders' finishes. This means our support vehicle with our coach, mechanic and soigneur is 10th in the convoy following the riders on each stage.
Wednesday - Stage 2 is the longest stage. At 138 km, it is just under the maximum allowed by UCI for a junior race. Sean attacks and is in 4th heading into the final meters, but fades to 13th -- this will be our best finish of the tour. The peloton splits in half, and the remainder of the team finishes 10 seconds behind the winner.
Thursday - The time trial is arranged in waves, with one rider from each team per wave to allow a team car to trail in case a mechanical occurs. Coach advises the boys who are not in GC contention to take it easy as there is no time cut. Sean finishs 24, William finishes 30, both on TT bikes. Nathan, on his road bike, finishes 54. That afternoon the race moves to Malarctic for Stage 4, the shortest road stage at 53 km. Again, the boys finish with the peloton and are awarded same time. At this point, our GC standings are Sean - 19, William - 29, Nathan - 44, Joe - 64, Billy - 93 and Connor - 100. Of the 144 riders who started, 132 remain, the rest either failing to finish due to injury, or missing the 20% time cut for each stage. The team's GC position has improved to 9th.
Friday - Stage 5 - fatigue is beginning to set in. Two crashes impact our riders, but all finish within the time cut. Nathan and Billy both receive medical attention after the stage.
Saturday - Stage 6 is a 10 km circuit race. Circuit races can be mentally tough as you see the same course features over and over again. Billy abandons about 1/3 into the race due to cramping and pain from injuries sustained the previous day. Sean attacks on the final lap, but crosses the finish line with Joe and William, with Nathan and Connor right behind. All five receive the same time as the winner.
Sunday - the last stage. So far, Team YM has not contested any of the intermediate sprints or KOM. Sean times his attack well, and wins a sprint, earning a time bonus that moves him up in the GC. Our five finish safely with the peloton. The field has dwindled to 107.
Final results:
Sean - 16th in the GC, 1:09 behind
William - 24th, 1:31 behind
Joe - 46th, 2:53 behind
Nathan - 88th, 24:30 behind
Connor - 96th, 32:27 behind.
Team YM is 8th, 4:03 behind the firs place USA National team, and is the top regional club team from the USA!
Sean and William finish as the top Americans behind 4 USA National team members who finished 1,2,3 and 6.
In a race that is predominately 18 year olds, the 17 year olds have their own competition - 65 of the 144 were 17. William finishes 7th in the young rider competition, the second best American.
If you made it this far and want more, head over to Facebook to the team's group page for videos, photos and race recaps from Coach Colin https://www.facebook.com/groups/62145370609
Thanks again for your support of our warriors!
Lehigh Valley Cycling Club
50th Edition Tour de l'Abitibi
July 16-22, 2018
Val d'Or, Canada
The Tour de l’Abitibi is a 6-day, 7-stage UCI Junior Men’s 17-18 Nations Cup race, held in the Abitibi region of Quebec approximately 6 hours north of Ottawa. This year the host city is Val d’Or. The race features a combination of national teams (e.g. USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Denmark, France, Thailand) as well as regional/club teams from the USA and Canada. Young Medalists is proud to be one of the few club teams accepted to this prestigious international event.
This race is a unique opportunity to “live the life of a pro cyclist” for a week, meaning that all the riders have to focus on is racing, recovering, eating and sleeping. With the top junior talent from Europe and North America, the quality of the field is top-notch. As the only UCI Junior race in North America, it’s a great experience for riders who are contemplating how far they want to go in the sport of cycling.
Young Medalists has a proud tradition of sending a club team to L'Abitibi. This year, the Young Medalists team will consist of six riders making their first trip to L'Abitibi.
Joe Clay - racing age 18 from Upper Darby PA
Sean Guydish - racing age 18 from Easton PA
Nathan Roberts - racing age 17 from Whitehall, PA
William Walton - racing age 17 from Allentown PA
Billy Taylor - racing age 17 from New York City, guest rider from Star Track
Connor Thompson - racing age 17 from Sinking Springs PA, guest rider from Burner Fitness
The riders will be managed by Young Medalists coach, Colin Sandberg of Backbone Performance -- this is his 8th trip to l'Abitibi! The riders will be supported by a mechanic and a seougner.
The team's expenses for the race are budgeted at $12,000 -- this includes travel expenses to Canada, registration fees and incidental expenses during the Tour.
Cheer us on as we train for this once-in-a-lifetime experience!! You have the option of supporting the whole team, or an individual rider through their personal fundraising page.
Rally Roster
Groups and individuals raising money for the same goal.
Join Rally RosterName | Boosts | Raised | |
---|---|---|---|
Connor Thompson | 4 | $380 | |
Joseph Clay | 12 | $2,057 | |
Nathan Roberts | 1 | $100 | |
William Walton | 2 | $82 | |
Sean Guydish | 3 | $158 |
Updates
-
Thank you once again for your support of Team Young Medalists! If you haven't been following along on Facebook, here's a quick recap of the past week.
Saturday - bright and early, 6 riders and their parents packed up the SUV and rental car with luggage, bikes, gear and food for the 10 hour trip to Val D'Or. They stopped overnight in Ottawa for an easy ride to stretch their legs.
Sunday - arrival in Val d'Or and unloading and setting up their room.
Monday - recon ride around Val d'Or where most of the stages finish, several with circuits within the town limits. The team presentation (we are last, thanks to our name!) occurs during a deluge, and the team sprint competition is cancelled. Thankfully, it's the only rainy day. 25 teams with 144 riders from 8 countries, with 6 national teams (USA, Canda, Mexico, France, New Zealand and Thailand) will compete. Each team has a minimum of 4 riders and a maximum of 6.
Tuesday - nerves are high for the first stage, but our boys avoid the crashes, and our top riders are awarded same time as the winner. Team YM is tied for 1st in the Team GC and placed 10th, based on the riders' finishes. This means our support vehicle with our coach, mechanic and soigneur is 10th in the convoy following the riders on each stage.
Wednesday - Stage 2 is the longest stage. At 138 km, it is just under the maximum allowed by UCI for a junior race. Sean attacks and is in 4th heading into the final meters, but fades to 13th -- this will be our best finish of the tour. The peloton splits in half, and the remainder of the team finishes 10 seconds behind the winner.
Thursday - The time trial is arranged in waves, with one rider from each team per wave to allow a team car to trail in case a mechanical occurs. Coach advises the boys who are not in GC contention to take it easy as there is no time cut. Sean finishs 24, William finishes 30, both on TT bikes. Nathan, on his road bike, finishes 54. That afternoon the race moves to Malarctic for Stage 4, the shortest road stage at 53 km. Again, the boys finish with the peloton and are awarded same time. At this point, our GC standings are Sean - 19, William - 29, Nathan - 44, Joe - 64, Billy - 93 and Connor - 100. Of the 144 riders who started, 132 remain, the rest either failing to finish due to injury, or missing the 20% time cut for each stage. The team's GC position has improved to 9th.
Friday - Stage 5 - fatigue is beginning to set in. Two crashes impact our riders, but all finish within the time cut. Nathan and Billy both receive medical attention after the stage.
Saturday - Stage 6 is a 10 km circuit race. Circuit races can be mentally tough as you see the same course features over and over again. Billy abandons about 1/3 into the race due to cramping and pain from injuries sustained the previous day. Sean attacks on the final lap, but crosses the finish line with Joe and William, with Nathan and Connor right behind. All five receive the same time as the winner.
Sunday - the last stage. So far, Team YM has not contested any of the intermediate sprints or KOM. Sean times his attack well, and wins a sprint, earning a time bonus that moves him up in the GC. Our five finish safely with the peloton. The field has dwindled to 107.
Final results:
Sean - 16th in the GC, 1:09 behind
William - 24th, 1:31 behind
Joe - 46th, 2:53 behind
Nathan - 88th, 24:30 behind
Connor - 96th, 32:27 behind.
Team YM is 8th, 4:03 behind the firs place USA National team, and is the top regional club team from the USA!
Sean and William finish as the top Americans behind 4 USA National team members who finished 1,2,3 and 6.
In a race that is predominately 18 year olds, the 17 year olds have their own competition - 65 of the 144 were 17. William finishes 7th in the young rider competition, the second best American.
If you made it this far and want more, head over to Facebook to the team's group page for videos, photos and race recaps from Coach Colin https://www.facebook.com/groups/62145370609
Thanks again for your support of our warriors!
Lehigh Valley Cycling Club
-
Last week the team met at Rodale Fitness Park for a 90 mile mid-week ride. This week is the highest mileage week for the team before Canada. They will ride from the Fitness Park in Trexlertown down to Philadelphia, stay overnight and ride back. Both days will be capped off with a race-simulation ride. Thanks for your support of Young Medalists and our guest riders!
-
Hard to believe we are just over a month away from leaving for Canada! This week, Team YM begins a series of weekly training rides with Coach Colin to build the endurance needed to race 7 stages.
Comments
Name | Comment |
---|---|
Kayleigh Thompson | Good luck in your race, Connor!! Proud of you for making it to this fantastic team! |
Heather, Peter & Nolan Fletcher | Best of luck Connor! |
Rob Brothers | Sending you FAST VIBES ! Good Luck Team. |
Rick, Beth, Charley and Jonah Hilles | Good Luck! Jonah says "do a great job, have fun. Make sure you have a silly time. Hahaha." Love Jonah. |
Bob and Leslie Adams | Happy Birthday Nathan |
jon corbett | Go Joseph from Team Inspirage |
Paul Mathers | Good Luck! |
Anonymous | Good luck! Race hard and you'll go far! |
Rolland and Sharon Preuss | Grammy and Grampa will be rooting for William Walton and his team mates. Enjoy the ride! |
Boosters
Name | Comment | |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Chas
|
|
![]() |
Jen and Mike
|
|
![]() |
Kayleigh Thompson
|
Good luck in your race, Connor!! Proud of you for making it to this fantastic team!
|
![]() |
Heather, Peter & Nolan Fletcher
|
Best of luck Connor!
|
![]() |
Joseph Clay
|
|
![]() |
Rob Brothers
|
Sending you FAST VIBES ! Good Luck Team.
|
![]() |
Rick, Beth, Charley and Jonah Hilles
|
Good Luck! Jonah says "do a great job, have fun. Make sure you have a silly time. Hahaha." Love Jonah.
|
![]() |
C Clay | L Andros-Clay
|
|
![]() |
Richard Orner
|
|
![]() |
Bob and Leslie Adams
|
Happy Birthday Nathan
|
![]() |
Anonymous
|
|
![]() |
Joseph Clay
|
|
![]() |
jon corbett
|
Go Joseph from Team Inspirage
|
![]() |
Anonymous
|
|
![]() |
Mark Lewis
|
|
![]() |
Paul Mathers
|
Good Luck!
|
![]() |
Chi Park
|
|
![]() |
Bob Schwartz
|
|
![]() |
John P Mahoney
|
|
![]() |
Dave Jordahl
|
|
![]() |
Angela Walton
|
|
![]() |
Anonymous
|
|
![]() |
Anonymous
|
|
![]() |
Michelle
|
|
![]() |
Anonymous
|
Good luck! Race hard and you'll go far!
|
![]() |
Guy Walton
|
|
![]() |
Rolland and Sharon Preuss
|
Grammy and Grampa will be rooting for William Walton and his team mates. Enjoy the ride!
|